✰ Jason Ackerman ✰
Location: Central City
As the Charizard roared, Jason hurriedly considered his options. It was at times like this that survival mode brought out his analytical side. Two of his Pokemon were weak against fire, but Dragon types resisted it.
"Fraener!" he shouted, sending out the Fraxure. "Dragon Pulse!" Opening his jaws wide, Fraener unleashed a brilliant green energy pulse that slammed into the Charizard. Spinning round in the air, the fire lizard dived and bit down with flaming teeth. Jason watched in shock, but Fraener remained standing, his dragon-typical toughness allowing him to shake off the Fire Fang attack.
"Now, Iliana! Confuse Ray!" Struck by a shadowy beam, the Charizard wobbled as it flew, crashing into a rocky wall and falling to the ground with a thud.
Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Jason grabbed onto a rock and pulled himself up. "Owww..." He'd sustained quite a few cuts and bruises, but thankfully nothing worse. "This might be a good time to get out of he-"
Another cry, more enraged than ever, ripped through the air as the Charizard clambered to its feet. It spread its wings, ready to fly back up above its prey.
"Tibert! Hit with Psyshock!" Jason called out. The Espurr, standing by his trainer behind the Light Screen, launched an orb of purple light at the Charizard. "Amyntas, quick! Rollout!" Before the dual Fire-Flying type could take off, the Golett curled into a ball and sped at it with considerable force.
"Keep at it!" the trainer urged. Picking up momentum, Amyntas hurtled at the wild Charizard once, twice, three times. Finally, with a frustrated growl, the fire lizard collapsed.
After keeping his eyes on it for a few more moments, watching for movement, Jason turned his attention to his team. "Whew... That was close. You all ok?" Fraener nodded, despite his charred scales. Iliana and Amyntas drew closer, making sure their trainer was alright. Tibert simply gave Jason his usual look of contempt.
"Well, I guess that's our training done," Jason said with an awkward laugh. "Let's go rest up." Returning his Pokemon, he left the fainted Charizard behind him. Visibly bashed up, covered in soot and dirt, he hoped he wouldn't run into anyone from his guild as he hurried into the city.
♪♫♪ Cecilia "Cici" Taylor ♪♫♪
Location: Tefan Village
@Zarkun
A series of shrill rings and cries jolted Cici from her sleep. "Wha...?" She sat upright to see not just one, but three of her Pokemon jumping around, joyfully signalling the start of a new day by making as much noise as possible.
"Oh, you three," she laughed, climbing out of bed and approaching Ligeia, Cadence and Allegro. Her movements, although still stiff, were much less painful. "What am I going to do with you? Al, I can already tell you'll get along with the others."
Allegro let out a chime-like giggle. Forte and Dulcet glared at their new teammate with sleepy mumbles. "Forte, don't you think I've forgotten the time you did that," Cici said, earning another mutter from the Whismur.
"Well," she said, glancing out of the window at the sun rising over the mountains, "it'll be time to take a proper look around this place soon."
♥ Ellanor "Ella" Beaufort ♥
Location: Stillwater
@Dusksong @Lugubrious
One moment, Ella stood bracing herself. The next, she looked up in confusion at Darkrai's words, reeling back from a sudden blinding light. Regaining her balance, she stepped forward into the yellow grass, her movements oddly fluid.
Her legs, instead of bending at the knee, had become unusually supple throughout. It was as if they no longer had bones, but still somehow supported her weight. Looking down, she gasped as she saw they'd become two slender, transparent tendrils. More tentacles hung around her, growing until they brushed against the grass. Like hair, she thought, or a long dress. Raising her arms in front of her, she saw that the same thing had happened to them. She didn't even know how she could see, as she didn't seem to have any eyes.
"W-What is this?" she stammered, although instead of a mouth, she had some kind of opening under her head. If it could even be called a head any more. Lifting up her arm-tendrils, she felt a frill protruding around a bell shape.
She had no idea what her current form was, but she intinctively knew what she was now capable of. All her life, she'd encouraged people, cheered them on, only to watch them leave her in the dust. Bitterness seethed through her at the thought, consuming her like spreading poison. Now, she could build people up... and then destroy them, leave them shells of who they once were.
The idea sickened her. And yet... For the first time in her life, she was strong.